British Boxing News
17,000 tickets were sold on the opening day of sales for Anthony Joshua’s IBF World Heavyweight title defence against Eric Molina at the Manchester Arena on December 10, live on Sky Sports Box Office in the UK and on SHOWTIME in the US.
Joshua defends his crown for the second time in his third fight in a row against American opposition – with limited tickets remaining on sale priced £40 to £500 from http://www.manchester-arena.com/ and on 0844 847 8000.
Dillian Whyte and Dereck Chisora had to be separated by security and filming was halted at Sky Sports studios this evening as they faced-off in the ‘Gloves Are Off’ ahead of their WBC World Heavyweight title eliminator at the Manchester Arena on December 10, live on Sky Sports Box Office in the UK and on SHOWTIME in the US.
The bitter London rivals sat face-to-face for 22 tension-filled minutes of filming with Johnny Nelson the man in the middle, before Whyte accused Chisora of ducking a clash with Anthony Joshua – lighting the fuse for the pair to leap to their feet, leading to security stepping in and filming ending.
Bitter heavyweight rivals Dereck Chisora and Dillian Whyte came face to face today at a press conference to further promote a British heavyweight title fight that in truth needs no further hype. These two DO NOT like one another and even if reigning British champ Whyte has made a habit of engaging in a war of words, verbally attacking a number of his previous opponents, the simmering intensity between these two is as real as it gets.
Before today’s presser, promoter Eddie Hearn was admittedly concerned over the two big men coming to blows or doing something generally crazy. This, thankfully did not happen (although these two have been involved in out-of-the-ring shenanigans before; remember Chisora’s infamous “bottle” incident with David Haye in Germany?)
Heavyweight living legend George Foreman has heralded Tyson Fury as “distinctive” and a “maverick” and says that boxing needs him while he urges his linear successor to get back in the ring as soon as possible.
Foreman, in an absorbing interview with the Daily Telegraph’s Gareth Davies, added that the heavyweight division now lacks the buzz for the casual fan whilst Fury takes time away from the sport to deal with personal health issues.
The WBA have officially sanctioned a blockbuster battle between Anthony Joshua MBE and Wladimir Klitschko for the spring of 2017 for the Super title – but only if Joshua successfully defends his IBF World Heavyweight title against Eric Molina at the Manchester Arena on December 10, live on Sky Sports Box Office in the UK and on SHOWTIME in the US.
Joshua defends his crown for the second time in his third straight clash with American opposition having ripped the strap from Charles Martin with a second round KO win in February at The O2 and defending the belt against Dominic Breazeale with a seventh round stoppage at his London fortress in June, extending his impressive run of KO wins to 17 in the paid ranks.
Anthony Joshua MBE is set to defend his IBF World Heavyweight title against Eric Molina at the Manchester Arena on December 10, live on Sky Sports Box Office in the UK and on SHOWTIME in the US.
Joshua puts his crown on the line for the second time and fights his third American in a row having destroyed Charles Martin inside two rounds to rip the title from the St Louis man in April at The O2 in London and then stopping Dominic Breazeale in the seventh round at the same venue in June, extending his unbeaten run in the paid ranks to 17 wins, all inside the distance.
Heavyweight legend George Foreman was a guest of honour in London over the weekend, meeting and greeting those fans of his who were lucky enough to attend. And while he visited London, “Big” George paid Londoner Anthony Joshua, the reigning IBF heavyweight champ, some very big compliments.
Foreman is often guilty of saying nice things to nice people, but the former two-time king of kings does seem to genuinely rate Joshua very highly; this despite AJ being just 17-0(17) as a pro right now.
Retired heavyweight great Lennox Lewis believes Wladimir Klitschko’s vast experience will prove too much for Anthony Joshua if the two meet next spring as is a strong possibility. Speaking with Sky Sports News HQ, Lewis said he favours 40-year-old Klitschko to beat 27-year-old Joshua, but only “slightly.”
“I would have to say Wladimir [wins] because of the experience,” Lewis said. “We have seen a lot of Anthony Joshua’s fights but he has knocked out everybody so what has he learned?
Eric Molina has been the frontrunner to challenge reigning IBF heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua for a few days now and fans will not be at all surprised to see the Mexican/American in the ring with Joshua in Manchester on Dec 10. Yet so far there has still been no official confirmation from Joshua promoter Eddie Hearn.
Yet the fight is up on BoxRec and it seems we will see Molina tackling the 17-0(17) star next. What kind of a fight will it be? Molina, still judged my a number of people by the loss he suffered to Chris Arreola over four years ago, is sick of telling people he has improved since then, when he was inexperienced and it showed. Stopped in the 1st-round (after stunning Arreola himself with a good shot to the head) Molina has had a tough time making people forget about this defeat, but is Molina, 25-3(19) a different fighter today?
BoxNation will be the only place to watch boxing legend Manny Pacquiao’s ring return as he takes on WBO welterweight world champion Jessie Vargas on November 5th from the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
The bout will be broadcast exclusively live on ‘The Channel of Champions’ BoxNation as eight-division world champion Pacquiao takes a break from his political commitments in the Philippines in a bid to become the only sitting Congressman and Senator to win a world title.